Enrollment Numbers, Corporate Learning Up at NWACC

The student center at the NorthWest Arkansas Community College was full of activity on a recent morning as students browsed the bookstore, grabbed a quick snack in between classes or participated in a voter registration drive.

College President Dr. Becky Paneitz says the activity is one sign of the record headcount of 7,298 students in the fall semester of 2008, a 12.8 percent increase over last year’s enrollment.

Paneitz said the availability of courses, both online and at campuses in Washington County and Bella Vista, have helped to increase enrollment.

With more students, however, comes the need for more space and expanded programs.

Last fall the college held a series of focus group sessions in order to update its master plan. The sessions were aimed at gathering input from the community regarding what programs the school should offer and where future facilities should be located.

The response, Paneitz said, was more nursing, allied health and business related programs as well as more partnerships with the University of Arkansas.

The college is attempting to grant those wishes with several new projects.

One is to purchase the NARTI and Highlands Oncology facilities across the street for $3.2 million, Paneitz said, and turn them into a new nursing center.

That will free up space in Burn’s Hall, she said, which will be used for general classrooms.

The college recently broke ground on an $8 million, 40,000 SF business facility. The new Shewmaker Center for Global Business Development, expected to open in 2010, will house the college’s business and technology programs as well as four primary institutes including the Retail Institute, Entrepreneurial Studies Institute, Sustainability Institute and Transportation and Logistics Institute. Also in the works is deal that would allow the college to rent portions of the old St. Mary’s Hospital in Rogers for several programs, including some of its allied health programs.

Paneitz said one of the goals from the focus group sessions was a permanent facility in Washington County.

“Forty percent of our students are from Washington County, so we want something accessible for them,” she said.

Paneitz said the ideal location for a permanent facility would be on Springdale’s west side, near Arvest Ballpark, where it would be accessible to students from Siloam Springs.

The college is not only attracting new credit students; executives and business professionals are also looking to the college to expand their knowledge. Paneitz said corporate training is the area with the most potential for growth. The college purchased the assets of RealPlanIT Inc. in February and expanded course offerings at the corporate learning facility at the intersection of College Avenue and Joyce Boulevard in Fayetteville.

Paneitz said the center is partnering with J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., Tyson Foods Inc. and Wal-mart Stores Inc. as well as small businesses to train executives and working professionals.

“When the economy goes bad, the first thing that many companies do is cut in-house training,” she said. “That’s an opportunity for us to provide training at a more cost effective rate.”

Paneitz said the college is about $1.3 million from reaching its $16 million capital campaign.